A Warning against Favoritism

1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, of glory, with distinction of faces. 2For if there come into your synagogue a man wearing gold rings on is fingers, in brilliant clothing, and there come in also a beggar in filthy clothing; 3And ye look toward him bearing the brilliant clothing, and ye say to him, Sit thou well here; and to the beggar ye say, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4Were ye not separated among yourselves, and become judges of evil reflections? 5Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him? 6And ye have despised the beggar. Do not the rich bring you into subjection, and draw you before tribunals? 7And do they not defame the good name called upon you?

8If yet ye complete the royal law according to the writing, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9And if ye make distinction of faces, ye work sin, being convicted under the law as transgressors. 10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and stumble in one, has become bound of all. 11For he having said, Thou shouldest not commit adultery, said also, Thou shouldest not kill: and if thou commit not adultery, and dost kill, thou hast become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak ye, and so do, as about to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For unpropitiated judgment to him not doing mercy; and mercy boasteth against judgment.

Faith and Works
(Galatians 3:1–9)

14And what profit, my brethren, if any say he has faith, and should not have works? can faith save him? 15And if a brother or sister be naked, and be failing of daily food, 16And any of you say to them, Retire in peace, be ye warmed and be ye fed; and ye give them not things fitting the body; what profit? 17So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.

18But certain will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith from my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: and the evil spirits believe, and shudder. 20And wilt thou know, O empty man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar. 22Thou seest that faith cooperated with his works, and from works was faith perfected. 23And the writing was completed, saying, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for justice: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Therefore ye see that man is justified from works, and not from faith alone. 25And likewise also was not Rehab the harlot justified by works, having received the messengers, and cast out by another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.